Many moons ago (probably 15 years) I picked up an old Mauser at a gun show, with the intention of chopping it up as a learning experience. I never could bring myself to hurt that poor thing though.
So now I've pulled it out of the gun safe, and am trying to figure out what to do with it. There's little info out on the web about the 1891 Argentine. As near as I can figure, there were a couple of carbine versions, but mine doesn't seem to match that description. So I've got to guess that it's been sporterized quite a bit. If so, they were pretty good at what they did.
Could someone knowledgable on these things take a look at these pictures, please, and make a guess as to whether this is an original carbine or a sporter?
What makes me suspicious is the barrel. It's about a 21" barrel. And the crown and front sight look like they belong there. The stock is original (all the serial numbers match, including the stock) and has the wire slots and the cleaning rod hole in it. But if someone cut down the stock, why didn't they put a forend cap on it?
So now I've pulled it out of the gun safe, and am trying to figure out what to do with it. There's little info out on the web about the 1891 Argentine. As near as I can figure, there were a couple of carbine versions, but mine doesn't seem to match that description. So I've got to guess that it's been sporterized quite a bit. If so, they were pretty good at what they did.
Could someone knowledgable on these things take a look at these pictures, please, and make a guess as to whether this is an original carbine or a sporter?
What makes me suspicious is the barrel. It's about a 21" barrel. And the crown and front sight look like they belong there. The stock is original (all the serial numbers match, including the stock) and has the wire slots and the cleaning rod hole in it. But if someone cut down the stock, why didn't they put a forend cap on it?